Say 'Goodbye' to Blockbuster: All Remaining Stores Will Close By Early Next Year

By Campus Circle Staff

This Blockbuster store in Texas went out of business in 2010.

(Credit: David Woo/Dallas Morning News/MCT)

Dish Network announced Wednesday that all of the remaining Blockbuster stores (about 300) in the U.S. will close by early next year, according to Variety. In addition, its DVD-by-mail business will also cease to exist.

Probably not a surprise to many, the decision to close down everything comes from consumers' choice to digitally rent or stream movies instead of traditionally picking up a physical DVD at a nearby Blockbuster. Thanks to Hulu, Netflix, Video on Demand (VOD) and other online streaming platforms, it was only a matter of time before Blockbuster closed its doors forever.

"This is not an easy decision, yet consumer demand is clearly moving to digital distribution of video entertainment,” said Joseph P. Clayton, Dish president and CEO, according ot Variety.